Every hour of television watched after the age of 25 reduced the viewer’s life expectancy by nearly 22 minutes, researchers in Australia found.

Study leader Dr. J. Lennert Veerman, a senior research fellow at the University of Queensland, and colleagues used 2008 data from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study, a survey of the health habits of some 12,000 Australian adults.

The study participants were asked questions about general health, disease status, exercise regimens, smoking and diet.